Prince George could be set to follow in his father’s footsteps and be impacted by a strict royal rule, but the custom may prove to be a bone of contention for Prince William
08:00 ET, 18 Sep 2025Updated 09:49 ET, 18 Sep 2025
Prince William has a choice to make(Image: Getty)
As Prince George marked his 12th birthday milestone earlier this year, a prominent royal authority says the young royal may soon face a stringent family tradition that could create headaches for his father, Prince William.
Royal family members must adhere to numerous protocols when traveling internationally. These range from carrying their own alcoholic beverages to prevent potential poisoning attempts to maintaining mourning attire for unexpected deaths – each guideline carries tremendous significance.
Among the most crucial regulations is the tradition that Royal children, upon reaching 12 years old, typically cannot travel alongside their parents on flights. This regulation is designed to safeguard the succession line should disaster strike. However, it’s a rule that has sometimes been broken. The news comes after Donald and Melania’s unusual sleeping arrangements at Windsor Castle were revealed.
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With Prince George now potentially subject to this restriction, what makes this decision particularly challenging for his father?
The Prince of Wales may not wish to follow the rule(Image: Getty)
“This is going to be a bit of a conundrum for William and will make long-haul flights very tricky,” former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively told the Express. “There will be a considerable amount of pressure on them to adhere to the rule, but I’m not convinced that he’ll stick to it rigidly.”
Addressing Prince William’s environmental advocacy and his role as Earthshot Prize founder, Ms Bond continued: “I suppose he could assuage his conscience by making sure they continue to all take scheduled flights, in which case their carbon footprint would remain the same.
“It’s really very awkward because, like any family, I’m sure they would always want to go on holiday together, including the travel. But it may be a compromise that William will have to make.”
It remains unclear whether George will continue traveling with his mom, Kate, and his siblings or if William will take separate flights.
On HELLO Magazine’s A Right Royal Podcast, King Charles’s former pilot, Graham Laurie, disclosed how this regulation affected Prince William starting at age 12 in 1994.
Prince George may no longer be able to fly with his father(Image: Getty)
He told listeners: “Interestingly, we flew all four: the Prince, the Princess, Prince William and Prince Harry, up until Prince William was 12 years old.
“After that, he had to have a separate aircraft and we could only fly all four together when they were young with the written permission of Her Majesty. When William became 12, he would fly normally in a 125 from Northolt, and we would fly the 146 out with the other three on.”
This distinctive regulation exists to protect the line of succession. Although the King can authorize exceptions to this protocol, it’s typically discouraged for two direct heirs to journey on the same aircraft.
This is because, should a tragic accident occur, the monarchy would encounter significant instability. Tragically, three members of the Royal Family have previously perished in air accidents.
Prince Philip’s sister, Princess Cecile, met her untimely end in a crash in 1937, while the late Queen’s uncle, Prince George, Duke of Kent, died in 1942. Additionally, her cousin, Prince William of Gloucester, tragically lost his life while participating in an air show in 1972.
It comes as Melania Trump causes a stir in a yellow gown as critics spot ‘inappropriate’ detail.
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